Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
¶BRITTLE, adv. Appar. = quickly and unobtrusively. Nonce usage, phs. from the obs. Eng. sense of ‘fickle, unstable.’Ags. 1850 A. Jervise Brechin Cat Case 3:
He . . . snoov'd awa fu' brittle.
